Palpation is used as part of a physical examination in which an object is felt (usually with the hands of therapist or physical examiner) to determine its size, shape, firmness, or location.
Objective of palpation.
1. Locating the target of structure being palpated.
2. Assessing the target structure.
3. It requires interpretation of the sensation that the palpating fingers pick up from the target structure.It involves becoming aware of the quality of the target structure includes its size, shape and others characteristics. It is the primary assessment tool of a body worker.
How to palpate.
1. Move slowly.
2. To interpret and make sense of the sensory stimuli that coming through the palpating fingers. It should be performed slowly for the effectiveness to feel the muscles tone.
3. Use appropriate pressure.
4. When pressing the client's tissue, palpating fingers usually sink in until a tissue barrier is felt as the increases of resistance to the pressure of the therapist's fingers.
5. The tissue that is providing the barrier is often the tissue that is important to locate and assess; to not blindly push past this tissue barrier but rather to match the resistance of that tissue and explore it more fully.
6. When the target muscle is superficial, it is usually not difficult to palpate; just place the therapist's hand there and strumming around it while the client do some action on that particular muscle such as shoulder flexion, extension, abduction. For example, deltoid muscle at the shoulder joint.
7. When a structure is located in deep layer, it may be impossible to palpate unless deeper pressure is employed. For example, the psoas major muscle within the abdominopelvic cavity. Its requires deeper pressure that might be temporarily be slightly uncomfortable the client until the therapist find the muscle structure.
By: Haffizan
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